COWBOYS TO CHALLENGE Maroons legend Tallis backing North Queensland for glory
THIS is it, Cairns.
Your Taipans will tonight hit the RAC Arena floor on a mission to keep the fairytale run to the NBL finals alive against the defending premier Perth Wildcats.
The Taipans already produced one incredible performance at Perth, but fell to a Bryce Cotton
QUEENSLAND legend Gorden Tallis has backed the Cowboys to go from cellar dwellers to premiership contenders this year as they gear up for their blockbuster season-opener against the Broncos next week.
North Queensland are under pressure to improve on their past two seasons, where masterclass in overtime, then got the job done in front of the Orange Army when they returned home on Sunday afternoon.
It all comes down to tonight, with a spot in NBL Grand Final on the line when the Taipans take on the Wildcats in Perth.
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they finished 13th and 14th in back-to-back seasons.
The club has recruited strongly over the off-season, luring superstar fullback Valentine Holmes back from his stint in the NFL, while Kiwi international Esan Marsters has bolstered the Cowboys outside back stocks.
The Cowboys have also enjoyed a less distracting pre-season, after the devastating Townsville floods in February last year forced several players and staff to be evacuated from their homes.
Tallis has tipped the North Queensland club to bounce back to their winning ways this season.
“The Cowboys will go close to winning it,” Tallis said.
“They’ve got Val Holmes coming back and Esan Marsters is up there now as well.
“(Michael) Morgan’s got his body back. They’ve found a halfback in (Jake) Clifford, plus (Scott) Drinkwater is good.”
Tallis claimed the club’s new stadium would also be a huge advantage.
The Townsville product said the fact it had a roof and would keep a lot of the noise and atmosphere inside would create North Queensland’s very own “fortress”.
Speaking at The CourierMail’s NRL Season Launch on Monday, Cowboys coach Paul Green said the club was excited to play at the Queensland Country Bank Stadium.
“It’s tremendous,” Green said. “It’s very visible. You see it driving through the city now.
THE major restructure of how football is run in Far North Queensland has been applauded and welcomed by clubs.
Football Far North’s board will no longer exist in the new model, with the boundaries of North Queensland Football’s zone to now include FNQ clubs.
The region, to be termed Football Queensland North zone, will be overseen by a new independent board headed by chairman John Azpiri, though the game will be administered locally by Alex Srhoj.
For FNQ clubs, the change is a positive one, as they regain their say in the future direction of the sport.
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“Everyone is really excited for that first game.”
Tallis was adamant the club should not endure a tumultuous start to the season similar to last year.
“They had Ben Barba (released), Kyle Feldt (groin) and Nene Macdonald (released) ruled out early. They’re the players in your three best positions,” Tallis said.